Lodi mayor's first town hall to focus on crime

Lodi Mayor Alan Nakanishi will be hosting a town hall meeting to address public safety at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine St., Lodi.

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Lodi Mayor Alan Nakanishi will be hosting a town hall meeting to address public safety at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine St., Lodi.

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LODI - Lodi Mayor Alan Nakanishi is hosting a Town Hall meeting Thursday to discuss public safety, and to inform the community on the roles police units play in the community and what crimes are most prevalent in the city.

Titled "Crime in Lodi, keeping our streets safe," the meeting is one of three Nakanishi planned after being named mayor for 2013.

"Although the crime rate has decreased in our state and nation, property crime appears to be increasing," Nakanishi said. "The criminals in our neighboring cities appear to be expanding their base of operation and are committing crimes in our city."

Police Chief Mark Helms is slated to give a Power Point presentation on the structure of the police department. Nakanishi said he will also touch on the role churches play in helping people stay safe and secure. Salvation Army Capt. Martin Ross will also make a presentation, Nakanishi said.

Public safety concerns in Lodi have shifted from violent crime to property crimes over the past year, as the police force has increased gang intervention measures, Nakanishi said.

The department has received more than $500,000 in Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention grants to use in its efforts to curb gang activity that occurred mostly on the East Side. In 2011 and 2012, there were four gang-related homicides atop a growing list of violent crimes in east Lodi.

The Police Department has hired youth counselors, increased patrols, and targeted high-level gang members. The department has also deployed a gun buyback program, tattoo removal opportunities, and increased code enforcement in East Side neighborhoods.

Police have not reported a gang-related homicide in 2013, Nakanishi said, so he is turning his focus to property crime.

"The big concern right now is property crimes, and a lot of it is that people come from out of town to commit the crimes here," Nakanishi said. "It's a problem that people want to know how to be proactive. I think we can have some answers for them."

Sgt. Eric Versteeg said residents can be proactive about protecting their homes by locking their doors and windows, keeping any hedges trimmed so robbers cannot hide in their yards, and considering getting an alarm system or a dog.

"Be in contact with your neighbors and form a neighborhood watch," Versteeg said.

Nakanishi said he plans to provide people with the answers to as many questions as possible at the meeting.